Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Whyte.

            The minutes of the meeting of 21st April were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council, at its meeting on 5th May, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

Councillor Nic Bhranair declared an interest in relation to agenda item 6c – Update on Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund, on the basis that her employer had submitted an application for funding.

Councillor Ian McLaughlin declared an interest in relation to agenda item 6c – Update on Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund, in that he worked for an organisation which had applied for funding.

Councillor Beattie declared an interest in relation to agenda item 2c – Hardship Grant/Cost of Living Support 2022/23, on the basis that the organisation in which he was employed operated a social supermarket and might apply for funding.

As those items did not become the subject of discussion, the Members were not required to leave the meeting.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following twelve items is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following twelve items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Section 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Director of Finance submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report on the year-end financial position for 2022/23, together with the Quarter 4 finance report and year-end treasury position.

            He reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 24th March, it had agreed to rescind its decision of 17th February in relation to the reallocation of Departmental underspends and had agreed further to use any in-year underspend to commit to covering the shortfall of up to £279,315 to fund the Citywide Tribunal Service in 2023/24.

            The Director reported that, when available funds had been offset against the Departmental overspend, an overall revenue year-end surplus of £1.6 million was available. Information was then provided on the Council’s reserve position, LPS Finalisation, Covid-19 losses for 2022/23, capital projects and the establishment of a hardship fund, in response to funding which had been received from the Department for Communities, details of which would be provided later in the meeting.

            The Director went on to remind the Committee that, at its meeting on 21st April, it had agreed to defer consideration of the allocation of micro and medium grants funding to enable it to be reviewed in the context of available funding at the year end. He pointed out that the Committee might now wish to allocate funds as part of the year-end reallocation process and, to aid considerations, drew its attention to the following table which highlighted the required budget to support applications up to different scoring thresholds and the number of projects which would be supported (in brackets):

            After discussion, the Committee:

                                      i.          noted the contents of the report and approved the 2022/23 balances;

                                    ii.          agreed that the year-end surplus, after any adjustments, be set aside in a specified reserve to deal with any potential Central Government funding reductions;

                                   iii.          noted the year-end treasury management report for 2022/23;

                                  iv.          approved the creation of a specified reserve for hardship funding received from the Department for Communities; and

                                    v.          agreed to allocate £431,309.63 to micro-medium grants, on the basis of a score above 65, as set out in the table above.

            (Councillor Bunting declared an interest in this matter as discussions developed, on the basis that she was a member of the Belvoir Area Residents’ Group which had been included in the application for the Summer Diversionary Funding under the Greater Village Regeneration Trust and left the meeting whilst it was being discussed.)

            A Member referred to a proposal which had been made at the special meeting of the Committee on 16th June to allocate the entire underspend of £47,745 from the Summer Community Festivals Programme for projects being delivered in July to the Greater Village Regeneration Trust, on the basis that it had been the only one of the five unsuccessful applicants to have passed one threshold in the assessment process.

That proposal had been lost and the Committee had agreed that the underspend be used instead to develop a capacity building programme to be delivered in the autumn to groups which might wish to deliver activities next July, with any funding remaining to be returned to Departmental budgets. 

The Member highlighted a number of issues which required clarification and, accordingly, the Committee granted approval for officers to undertake a further assessment of the application which had been submitted by the Greater Village Regeneration Trust and for a special meeting to be held only if it was found that the second threshold had also been met.

            The Director of Finance reminded the Committee that Government funding was a key source of income for the Council and represented over 17% of its budgeted income in 2023-24.

He explained that Members would, through the rate setting process, be aware of the increasing financial risks around external funding over the past number of years resulting from Brexit, the cost-of-living crisis and Central Government funding cuts.  The budget for Northern Ireland, which had been set on 27th April, had been reduced from £14.269bn in 2022/23 to £14.212bn in 2023/24. All Executive Departments were facing significant financial pressures, as they were now allocating budgets at a time of increasing demands on services and running costs. 

With that in mind, he drew the Committee’s attention to the key risks which had been communicated from Executive Departments to Council officers and stressed that, in the absence of confirmed external funding support, the rate impact of the delivery of the various programmes would need to be considered as part of the 2024/25 rate setting process. 

The Director went on to point out that the Council was, from a financial management perspective, obliged to include the risks from Government funding in its monitoring and planning processes and concluded by recommending that the Committee:

                                     i.          note the risk to grant funded projects for 2023/24, based on current information;

                                    ii.          agree to receive regular updates on the impact of Executive budget cuts to Council grant funding; and

                                   iii.          note the impact of the uncertainty of Executive support to Councils for the 2024/25 rate setting process.

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that households were continuing to face pressures relating to inflation and the rising cost-of-living, which was having an adverse impact upon the most vulnerable in society, widening inequalities and increasing the prevalence of social isolation.

            He reported that the Department for Communities had allocated £4m within the 2023/24 financial year to a hardship scheme to enable councils to provide support to the most vulnerable within their district. The Department had also advised that any underspends in the Covid-19 support grants which it had provided in 2020/21 and 2021/22 could also be ring-fenced for cost-of-living support. The Council would, therefore, have in total £1,018,790 to allocate.

            The Director then provided details of what the Department for Communities deemed to be eligible and ineligible within the remit of the hardship scheme and pointed out that it had stated that funding could not be utilised for projects already being funded by the Department, unless being used to enhance or expand provision on food related schemes and that it was expected that no more than 10% in total of the funding be spent on administration of the scheme by a council or third parties.

            He went on to remind the Committee that it had agreed previously that a Cost-of-Living Working Group, supported by Council officers, be established to review previous hardship schemes and work to co-design an effective hardship scheme and stated that there was now a need to seek nominees to it.  Emerging proposals would, he pointed out, be submitted to this Committee in due course for consideration and approval.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee considered a report providing an update on current projects and initiatives associated with the Smart Belfast programme which were designed to support collaborative innovation in the City.

            The Committee:

                                      i.          noted the progress on the £900,000 Augment the City challenge competition;

                                    ii.          noted the work towards the delivery of a creative brief for the ‘Belfast Immersive Experience’ which would be shared with the City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installations Working Group for consideration;

                                   iii.          approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding between Belfast and Sejong, South Korea, accompanying the report, which would on 7th August be signed by both cities during the visit by the Mayor of Sejong;

                                  iv.          approved a contribution of £2,800 in 2024/25 to cover staffing costs for the six-month extension of the Hub-In programme due to Covid-19 delays;

                                    v.          approved a contribution of up to a maximum of £30,000 towards the development of a potential £5 million Belfast Regional Wireless Innovation Hub bid; and

                                  vi.          noted the request from Ulster University to work with the City Innovation Office on the design and delivery of its proposed Digital Healthcare Technology Accelerator, subject to Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council   funding approval.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th February, 2022, it had granted approval for new draft bye laws for the good governance of Belfast City Centre to be submitted to the Department for Communities and other relevant agencies for initial consultation.

            The Interim City Solicitor/Director of Legal and Civic Services outlined the background to the formulation of the bye laws and reviewed the main elements contained therein and pointed out that the Department for Communities had, within its initial response, highlighted a number of issues for further consideration. It had observed that there may be the potential for the bye laws to interfere with rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the subsequent possibility for challenge and had confirmed that it would consult more fully with the Departmental Solicitors Office on these issues during the formal consultation process.  The Department had also provided comments on the power to confiscate property and on an exemption for an official picket made by a Trade Union.

            She went to state that the Council had requested Counsel opinion on the aforementioned matters and pointed out that that opinion had included a recommendation that the words “and for the Prevention and Suppression of Nuisances in Belfast City Centre” be added to the title of the bye laws.

            She confirmed that the draft amenity bye laws had been updated to take into account the comments from the Department for Communities and counsel’s opinion and recommended that the Committee grant approval for them to be issued for formal public consultation.   

            During discussion several Members welcomed the progress which had been made in addressing longstanding issues in the City Centre, following which the Committee adopted the recommendation and agreed that an update be sought from the Department of Justice in relation to the ongoing independent review of hate crime legislation in Northern Ireland. 

            The Committee:

                                      i.          noted the feedback received from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in respect of the unsuccessful application for Round 2 Levelling Up Funding for 2 Royal Avenue and that this feedback would be considered for any relevant learning points for future applications for external funding;

                                    ii.          noted that there has been concern from a range of interested parties regarding the decision-making process and funding allocations associated with the Levelling Up Agenda, as set out in the recent Levelling Up Funding report published by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in Westminster;

                                   iii.          noted the proposed next steps in the development of a corporate process which would ensure that the Committee could make decisions on applications for funding opportunities based on priorities and projects agreed by Members; and

                                  iv.          noted that a portfolio of projects was being drawn up by Council officers in readiness for the announcement of future funding streams from whatever source.

            The Committee:

                                      i.          endorsed the draft refreshed Belfast Agenda strategy document and underpinning action plans, in advance of commencing a period of public consultation on 1st August, 2023;

                                    ii.          noted that a co-design and intensive engagement process had been adopted to inform the refresh of the Belfast Agenda and that a summary report of this engagement activity would be published online in the coming weeks;

                                   iii.          noted that the refreshed Belfast Agenda (and accompanying draft action plans) had been developed in liaison with Community Planning Partnership partners which were seeking organisational commitment alongside consideration by the Council and Committee;

                                   iv.          noted that a full Equality Impact Assessment and Rural Needs Assessment had been undertaken and would be consulted on from 1st August, 2023; and

                                    v.          noted that officers were working towards a launch date of the refreshed Belfast Agenda for week commencing 6th November, 2023, with a specific date to be confirmed shortly and all Members to be informed.

            (Ms. E. Clark, 2024 Programme Manager and Ms. L. A. O’Donnell, Senior Manager, Culture and Tourism, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee was provided with a detailed presentation on the developments for Belfast 2024, the Council’s ambitious year of creative celebration for Belfast, which included:

·        an update on Belfast 2024 Creative Programme Development, including partners and details of an open call;

·        updated B24 Budget allocations;

·        partnership developments and partnership investment;

·        an update on the streamlined Governance Model;

·        engagement and citizen led development so far; and

·        next steps.

            The Committee was then provided with details of a number of decisions relating to Belfast 2024 which had been taken by the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, at its meeting on 14th June, and its attention was drawn to an additional request for funding of £63,000 to support One Young World Delegates under the programme development strand, which would be taken from the 2024 budget under the creative engagement and programme development line.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item to enable Party Group briefings to be held. 

            The Director of City and Organisational Strategy submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report seeking approval to implement within his Department a revised staffing structure for the Strategy, Policy and Partnerships Unit and Portfolio Unit, as well as a staffing structure for a new Strategic Performance Unit.

            Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee approve:

                                      i.          the re-alignment of the existing Portfolio Unit structure and team to report to the Head of Inclusive Growth and Anti-Poverty;

                                    ii.          the creation of a new Strategic Performance Unit under the management of the Head of Inclusive Growth and Anti-Poverty, including the creation of one Strategic Performance Manager post, two Strategic Performance and Policy Officers and one temporary Policy and Performance Analyst; and

                                   iii.          the renaming of the Service to ‘Strategy, Programmes and Partnerships’.

            During discussion, a Member pointed out that approval to undertake this review had only been granted on 25th January, 2023 and highlighted the fact that the report which the Committee received on a quarterly basis on the progress of reviews being undertaken across the Council included a number which had been ongoing for more than four years.

      On that basis, it was

Proposed by Councillor R. McLaughlin,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

      That the Committee agrees to defer consideration of the report until such time as those reviews which had been ongoing for more than four years had been completed. 

            On a vote, nine Members voted for the proposal and ten against and it was declared lost.

            Accordingly, the Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations contained within the report.

            The Committee was reminded that the MAC, which had opened in 2012 in the Cathedral Quarter and attracted 320,000 visitors annually, provided local and international art, theatre, dance and music, along with hospitality facilities.

            The MAC currently received annual funding of £150,000 from the Council’s Core Multi-Annual Grant programme, which was paid in two equal instalments of £75,000. This was the final year of a four-year funding commitment to the organisation at this level. The most significant investor in The MAC was the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, which allocated just under £1million annually.

            It was reported that, due to issues surrounding the MAC’s 2023/24 Annual Funding Programme application to the Arts Council for Northern Ireland and the timeframe taken to complete a potential funding review, The MAC had an immediate cash flow issue which needed to be addressed.  Council officers were, therefore, proposing that a payment of £37,500, equivalent to three months’ funding be made, which would be met from existing budgets under the Core Multi-Annual Grant programme allocation but be treated as transition funds. There was the potential for an additional ask, should the current circumstances dictate. The Board of the Arts Council for Northern Ireland had agreed to offer three months of transition funding until the end of September 2023, based at the level of last year’s Annual Funding Programme grant, on the clear understanding that this was transition and not annual funding.

After discussion, during which the need to ensure that the City’s cultural infrastructure was maintained and developed was highlighted, the Committee agreed to allocate the equivalent of six months’ funding, that is £75,000, to The MAC. The Committee agreed also that the Chief Executive would write to its Board seeking clarification on how this funding would be utilised and suggesting that the Council be involved in discussions around funding requirements moving forward.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 23rd March, it had noted that arc21 had procured an interim contract for the treatment and disposal of the Council’s residual waste. Following a procurement exercise, the interim contract had been signed on 12th May and the unsuccessful bidder, which would continue to provide this service under a contract directly with the Council until 30th June, had been notified on 16th May.

            The Director of Resources and Fleet reported that the unsuccessful bidder had since issued two legal challenges against arc21 and confirmed that a Court ruling earlier that day in relation to the first, seeking an injunction to prevent the implementation of the contract, had not been granted by the Judge. The Council would now proceed to work, through arc21, with the successful contractor to take action to implement the new contract, which would commence on 1st July, 2023.

            She went on to point out that legal proceedings were ongoing and that the legal challenge seeking a declaration of ‘ineffectiveness’ and/or penalties was not due to be heard until the week commencing on 23rd October, 2023. Given the situation, it was important to ensure that sufficient interim contingency measures were put in place to ensure compliance with the Council’s statutory responsibilities in relation to residual waste.

            Accordingly, she recommended that the Committee delegate authority to her, in consultation with the Interim City Solicitor/Director of Legal and Civic Services and the Director of Finance to make the appropriate contingency arrangements.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.   

            The Committee was informed that the Standards and Business Committee, at its meeting on 28th March, had referred the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Murray and seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown, to this Committee for consideration:

“This Council, having due regard to the value of our heritage assets across the City, agrees to commission an independent evaluation of the options to restore Wilmont House back into use. Such an evaluation should include potential business uses and associated costings for renovation and explore the viability of community or wider civic use.”

            Councillor Murray provided a brief history of Wilmont House and emphasised the need to restore the building to use and protect the built heritage of the City generally.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to adopt the motion and agreed also that the process of identifying those Council heritage assets requiring action to be taken to prevent them from falling into disrepair and to address those which already had would be undertaken in the first instance through the Area Working Groups.    

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To make the appointments of Members to a range of Outside Bodies for the Council Term from 2023 to 2027.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1             The Committee is recommended to:

1.      note that the Council has agreed that all of the appointments to Outside Bodies will be grouped into one overall pool for the purposes of allocating positions;

2.      agree to nominate the representatives to NILGA as a separate one-off exercise, as set out in the report;

3.      note that the Council has agreed to use the Sainte Lague methodology to provide an order of party political choices of these positions;

4.      appoint the positions on Outside Bodies as set out in the attached appendix; and

5.      agree that, should any other requests be received for Council representation on Outside Bodies during the Council Term, the party or parties who would have had the next available choice(s) under the Sainte Lague table will be asked to nominate a representative(s).

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Key Issues

3.1.1     The Committee will be aware that there are a number of Outside Bodies which request that a Member or several Members sit on the Board of their Body. As we embark on the new Council term, we need to make these appointments.

3.1.2     Members should note that several appointments to Outside Bodies were determined by the former Department of the Environment to fall within the process established in the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 for Positions of Responsibility. These were arc 21, the Partnership Panel, the Northern Ireland Housing Council, the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and the Policing and Community Safety Partnership and its 4 District Partnerships. These appointments were determined using the D’hondt system of proportionality alongside the appointments for the Lord Mayor, the Deputy Lord Mayor and the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the 8 Standing Committees of the Council.

3.1.3     In considering the requests for appointments to Outside Bodies which are not considered to be Positions of Responsibility, the Council is free to choose any methodology it so wishes. However, in keeping with the process of proportionality, which is enshrined in the 2014 Act and which has been employed in the Council for a number of years, the Committee has approved of the use of the Sainte Lague system.

3.1.4     The process is for all of the appointments to Outside Bodies to be grouped together in one pool and the Party Leaders at a meeting on 15thJune have selected the positions set out in the Appendix.

3.1.5     In order for a process to be established which deals with any additional requests from Outside Bodies for Council representation during the Council Term, it is recommended that the party or parties who would have had the next available choice(s) under the Sainte Lague table will be asked to nominate a representative(s).

3.1.6     NILGA

            NILGA’s Constitution requires that the Council’s 10 nominations reflect the overall balance of the political  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To note the appointment of Members to the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSP) and District Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (DPCSPs)

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the report and the nominations listed below.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Key Issues

3.1.1     The Committee will be aware that the appointment of Members to the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSP) and District Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (DPCSPs) are considered as positions of responsibility.

3.1.2     These positions had been agreed previously during selection of choices for other positions of responsibility using the d’Hondt system which was ratified at the Annual meeting of the Council.

            PCSP

3.1.3     The PCSP is appointed based on proportionality to reflect the political balance of the Council following the local government election in May.

            The representation on the PCSP as result of that exercise was as follows:

            4 Sinn Féin   2 DUP   2 Alliance   1 SDLP

            The legislation requires that, as far practicable, the position of Chair is to be held in turn by the four largest Parties represented on the Council immediately after the last local election.

3.1.4     At the meeting of the Party Group Leaders on 15th June the order of choices was as follows:

3.1.5     DPCSPs

            All DPCSPs are taken together for the allocation of places and should also reflect the political balance of the Council after the election.  There are six places on each giving a total of 24.

            This results in the following allocation: SF 10, DUP 6, All 4, SDLP 2, Green 1 and UUP 1.

3.1.6     The legislation again requires the positions of Chair to be held, as far as practicable, by each of the four largest Parties on the Council.  At the same meeting the following positions were selected:

      Chair

3.1.7     Following an exercise for the selection of places of the DPCSPs, the overall makeup of the DPCSPS for the 4-year term is as set out below:

3.2       Financial and Resource Implications

            None Associated with this report.

3.3       Equality, Good Relations and Rural Assessment Implications

            None associated with this report.”

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

            To consider the appointment of Members to the four Partnership Boards.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is recommended to:

1.     approve the use of the Quota Greatest Remainder method to identify those parties entitled to nominate representatives to the Forward South Belfast and Eastside Partnership Boards, based upon the number of Members returned at the Local Elections for the District Electoral Areas coterminous with the Partnerships’ areas;

2.     approve the Party allocations for the Forward South and Eastside Partnerships as set out below; and

3.     approve the compromise arrangement for the appointment of Members to the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Partnership Boards and to the Party allocations under this arrangement as set out below.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

            The Council has, since 2011, made nominations of Members to serve on the 4 Partnership Boards (Forward South, Eastside and West Belfast and Greater Shankill).  These nominations were made from the Members returned for the related District Electoral Areas (DEAs) at the Local Elections, depending upon the political party strengths in those DEAs.

            The representation on each of the Partnerships is as follows:

            Forward South Partnership – 5 Members

            Eastside Partnership – 3 Members

            West Belfast Partnership – 8 Members

            Greater Shankill Partnership - 6 Members

            The Committee is recommended to again adopt the Quota Greatest Remainder system of proportionality to determine the party representation to the Partnership Boards in South and East Belfast as set out below.

            Forward South Partnership Board (5 Members)

            The appointees are drawn proportionately from the Parties represented in the Balmoral and Botanic DEAs.

            The strengths of the Parties in these DEAs is set out below, together with the number of places which the Parties would be entitled to on the Board based upon the strict application of proportionality.

            Four of the five seats are allocated automatically.  The Quota Greatest Remainder system dictates that where two or more parties have the same figure the available place(s) should be allocated to the parties which attracted the most first preference votes in the most recent elections.  Accordingly, the extra place is allocated to the Alliance Party.

            The overall allocation is 2 Alliance, 1 DUP, 1 SF and 1 SDLP.

            Eastside Partnership Board (3 Members)

            In previous years, there were 8 Elected Members on the Eastside Partnership Board.

            However, in March 2023, correspondence was received from the Chief Executive Officer stating that, following a governance review of the Board, there will only be 3 spaces for Belfast City Council Elected Members and preference is that there would be one Councillor from each of the DEAs - Lisnasharragh, Ormiston and Titanic.

            The representation is based on the use of the Quota Greatest Remainder would be as follows:

            Lisnasharragh

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To consider the appointment of Members to the five Building Successful Communities Forums operating in the City.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is recommended to:

1.     agree to the use of the Quota Greatest Remainder system of proportionality to allocate the available places on the five Forums amongst the political parties represented in the relevant DEAs; and

2.     agree to the allocation of the seats on the five Forums as follows:

·        Lower Oldpark and Hillview – 2 SF

·        Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer – 1 DUP and 1 SF

·        Lenadoon and Glencolin – 2 SF

·        Lower Shankill and Brown Square and  Falls – 2 DUP, 1 SF and 1 TUV

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Key Issues

3.1.1    In October, 2013 the Department for Social development launched five pilot schemes in Belfast under the Building Successful Communities Programme.  These were:

·        Lower Oldpark and Hillview

·        Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer

·        Lower Shankill and Brown Square

·        Lenadoon and Glencolin

·        Lower Falls

3.1.2    These Forums, up until 2015, had membership from elected representatives, local communities and statutory and voluntary agencies.  The Forums were tasked with identifying the particular housing and regeneration needs of their area and developing and implementing plans to reverse the decline in those areas and create more sustainable communities.

3.1.3    Elected member representation on the Forums had been identified by way of nomination from MLAs.  However, the Department in 2015 sought the formal nomination of up to two Council representatives on each of the five Forums.

3.1.4    In 2015 and 2019, the Council agreed, in order to ensure that the nominated Members were from the District Electoral Areas (DEAs) in which the Forums operated and that the nominations were proportional to the political party strengths in those DEAs, that a Quota Greatest remainder exercise should be undertaken.  It is recommended that the same approach is taken for the nomination of Members in 2023.

3.1.5    The five Forums and the relevant DEAs have been identified as:

·        Lower Oldpark and Hillview – Oldpark DEA

·        Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer – Castle DEA

·        Lenadoon and Glencolin – Collin and Black Mountain DEAs

·        Lower Shankill and Brown Square – Court DEA

·        Lower Falls – Court DEA

3.1.6    Accordingly, it is suggested that the two Forums for Lower Shankill and Brown Square and Lower Falls should be grouped together for the purpose of the proportionality exercise as the membership for both is being drawn from the Court DEA, as was the case in 2015 and 2019.

3.1.7    The outcome of the Quota Greatest Remainder exercise for each of the Forums is set out below:

3.1.8    Lower Oldpark and Hillview – Oldpark DEA

            The Quota Greatest Remainder system dictates that where two or more parties have the same remainder figure the available place should be allocated to that party which attracted the most first preference votes in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To provide the Committee with an update on the roles and remits of the various Working Groups and consider which Groups it wishes to reconstitute.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        note the Terms of Reference of the Working Groups; and

·        agree which Groups it wishes to reconstitute.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

            Committee Structure

3.1       The Committee is reminded that, at its meeting on 21st April, it had considered a report on the new Council term commencing in May, 2023 and agreed to continue with the existing governances arrangements, that is, a traditional committee system, with 8 standing Committees.

            Working Groups

3.2       Since 2007, the Council has agreed also to appoint Working Groups to focus on issues of particular concern.  In addition, the Council had agreed previously the following principles associated with appointment of Working Groups:

·        Working Groups should be established only if they are considered to be essential for the achievement of effective and efficient decision-making;

·        such Working Groups should be appointed for a fixed-term and for a specific purpose;

·        the Groups would not have decision-making powers but rather would produce a report with recommendations (usually in the form of minutes of the meeting) for consideration by the parent Committee;

·        after the Working Group has concluded the business for which it was established, it would cease to exist; and

·        Working Groups should be formed on the basis of  All - Party representation with nominees sought from the Party Group Leaders.

3.3       At the meeting on 21st April, the Committee agreed to the reconstitute the following Working Groups:

3.4       It agreed also that, in line with Council policy, to appoint 1 Member from each of the Parties on the Council, with a Party being defined as having 2 or more Members.

3.5       The Committee now needs to consider which of the following Working Groups it wishes to reconstitute:

3.6       Financial and Resource Implications

            None.

3.7       Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            None.”

            The Committee agreed to reconstitute all of the Working Groups listed in paragraph 3.5 of the report and noted that it would in due course receive a report on the outcome of a review of governance arrangements, including the role, remit and number of Working Groups.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To consider amendments to the Council’s Scheme of Allowances, adjusting the rates of Special Responsibility Allowances to reflect the increase in membership of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. Shareholders’ Committee and the change in Party strengths at the recent Local Government Elections.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is recommended to:

1.      approve the increase in the allowance of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. Shareholders’ Committee to the same as the Council’s seven other Standing Committees;

2.      approve the adjustments to the allowances of the Council’s seven other Standing Committees; and

3.      approve the adjustments to the allowances for the Party Group Leaders, Deputy Party Group Leaders and the Party Group Secretaries.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Key Issues

            The Local Government (Payments to Councillors) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019, Part 2, par 3 states that the Council must agree a new Scheme of Allowances for each year in which allowances are paid.

3.1.1     Paragraphs 4(2) and 5(2) further state that the amount of basic allowance and special responsibility allowances shall be determined by the Council.

3.1.2     The Department for Communities issued a circular, LG 10/2022, dated 28th March, 2022, which set out revised maximum limits for basic and special responsibility allowances with effect from 1st April, 2021.

3.1.3     The Department for Communities issued a further circular, LG 03/2023 dated 25th January, 2023, which set out revised maximum limits for basic and special responsibility allowances with effect from 1st April, 2022 which the Council chose not to apply.

3.1.4     The allowance paid to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. Shareholders’ Committee was previously set at half that paid to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the other Standing Committees as it had a membership of 14 Councillors compared to the 20 Councillor membership of most of the other committees.

3.1.5     The membership of this committee, along with the Planning Committee, was increased this Council term to 20 members to bring them in line with all of the Council’s other Standing Committees.

3.1.6     For a number of years, the Council has agreed a split in the special responsibility allowance budget so as to pay a Special Responsibility Allowance to the Chairpersons and the Deputy Chairpersons of the Standing Committees and to the Party Officers (Party Leaders of parties of 12 or more members, Deputy Party Leader of parties of five or more members, and Party Secretary of parties of 12 or more members).

3.1.7     Special Responsibility Allowance

            The Committee is requested to consider whether it wishes to apply the increases to the allowances paid to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of each of the Council’s Standing Committees as detailed in the table below.

            The Committee is further requested to consider if it wishes to apply the suggested increase to the allowances for Party Officers following the changes to party strengths at the recent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

            Having been informed that the current Director of External Affairs, Marketing and Communication would be leaving the Council in August, 2023, the Committee:

                           i.      adopted the recommendation to recruit the post on a replacement basis and to change the title to Director of Communications, Marketing and External Affairs;

                          ii.      noted that, due to timing issues, the Chief Executive had, following consultation with the Party Group Leaders, taken the decision under delegated authority to proceed to advertise the post on 29th and 30th June; and

                         iii.      agreed that the selection panel comprise the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, Councillor Smyth, the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services (or her nominee) and a Council Director;

            In addition, the Committee:

                           i.      approved the proposed timeline for the recruitment of the posts of Strategic Director of City Operations, Strategic Director of Place and Economy and City Solicitor/Director of Legal and Civic Services; and

                          ii.      adopted the recommendation to change the title of Director of Physical Programmes/Physical Programmes Department to Director of Property and Projects/Department of Property and Projects. 

            The Committee approved the Council’s response to the Department for Communities’ consultation, which can be accessed here.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

            This report provides the Committee with an update on the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) and seeks approval of the first Annual Report.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

i.       approve the BRCD Annual Report for 2022/23;

ii.      note the update on project development and delivery across the pillars of investment;

iii.    note the update in relation the Implementation and Financial Plan;

iv.    note the updates on key pieces of work in relation to Net Zero and Green Growth; and

v.      note the update in respect of programme communication and the BRCD Council Panel.

3.0       Main Report

            Annual Report 2022/23

3.1       As previously reported to the Committee, the agreed reporting arrangements for all City and Growth Deals requires the production of an Annual Report and the requirement to meet with the Northern Ireland Delivery Board in order to discuss deal progress as part of an ‘Annual Conversation’. 

3.2       This is the first annual report produced for BRCD and outlines the significant progress made moving the deal from development to delivery stage in a period during which the partners have faced the considerable challenges of inflation, economic and political uncertainty and constraints on the public finances, alongside the complexities of City Deal financing and governance.  The report provides an update on the progress of all the BRCD projects across its pillars of investment and key highlights include:

·        A total of 11 Outline Business Cases (OBC) have now been approved, with 3 more at advanced stages of the approval process

·        The first contract was signed by Ulster University for the Studio Ulster project in July 2022 and has been followed in recent months with contracts signed with Council partners for Carrickfergus Regeneration, Bangor Waterfront Regeneration and Newry City Centre Regeneration. In the latter part of 2022/23 contracts were signed with Queen’s University for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) (also supported by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Ulster University), The Global Innovation Institute (GII) and Institute of Research Excellence for Advanced Clinical Healthcare (iREACH) projects

·        The seven contracts for funding that have been signed will enable the delivery of projects with an approximate value of £430m.

·        The Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge and Newry Southern Relief Road - which will be financed directly through BRCD funds available to the Department of Infrastructure - also have the approvals necessary to move into the delivery phase.

·        The first funding drawdown requests for the BRCD have now been submitted to the Department for Economy (DfE) and Department for Communities (DfC) and the first claim to a BRCD partner has been completed, marking significant milestones for deal delivery.

·        Another key milestone for deal partners was commencement of construction on the first project, the 57,000ft² Studio Ulster site at Giant’s Park in October 2022.

·        2022/23 also saw work commence on the skills assessment process to understand and respond to the labour and skills implications and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

            The Committee approved the Council’s response to The Executive Office’s consultation, which can be accessed here.

            Cregagh Youth and Community Centre

            The Committee approved the grant of a licence to the Irish Rugby Football Union (Ulster Branch) for the use of the overflow parking area adjacent to Cregagh Youth and Community Centre up to twenty times per season, with the Council to receive £300 on each occasion.

            North Link Playing Fields

            The Committee approved the rectification of the Council’s boundary with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at North Link Playing Fields, with the lands to be exchanged at nil value.

            Sally Gardens Community Centre

            The Committee approved the completion of a Deed of Dedication to Urban Villages in respect of works carried out as part of the Sally Gardens Urban Villages project.

            Whiterock Close

            The Committee approved the grant of a licence to Glór na Móna for the erection of a Portacabin on a Council site adjoining its premises on Whiterock Close, with the Council to receive a rental income of £600 per annum.

            Gasworks Northern Fringe Masterplan - Site A

            The Committee agreed to grant a Construction Licence to Radius Housing Association/Kelly Brothers, for a period of two years, to provide access over Council owned land at Site A Gasworks Northern Fringe to facilitate the construction of social housing on Radius’ adjacent site, with the fee to be assessed by the Council’s Estates Management Unit.

            Gasworks Northern Fringe Masterplan - Site D

            The Committee agreed to grant a Builder’s Compound Licence to Kelly Brothers, for a period of up to 2 years, to place a compound on Council owned land at Site D Gasworks Northern Fringe to facilitate the construction of social housing on Radius’ adjacent site, with the fee to be assessed by the Council’s Estates Management Unit.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes over 200 capital projects with investment of £150m+ via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. The Council’s Capital Programme forms part of the Physical Programme and is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. This report includes:

-       a review of recently completed and underway physical projects,

-       requests for approvals relating to the Capital Programme,

-       a request to act as delivery agent for an Urban Villages project and;

-       approval to procure as appropriate for the Physical Programme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

i.       Physical Programme Half Year Update – to note the overall update on projects that have been completed recently and projects currently under construction as at 3.1-3.4 below and that the Physical Programmes Department is happy to arrange a site visit to any projects that have been completed or are underway;

ii.      Capital Programme movements: to agree the following movement under the Capital Programme:

o   IT Programme – SIEM QRadar Log Manager system project (move to Stage 3 – Committed)

o   Waterfront Hall Chiller Units, Waterfront Hall Smoke Curtains, City Hall Christmas Tree, Cremated Remains Burial Plots projects– add as Stage 1 – Emerging projects under the Capital Programme to allow business cases to be developed;

iii.    Role of the Council as delivery agent – to agree in principle that the Council acts as the delivery agent for a project receiving external funding from other sources (Donegall Pass Good Relations Hub under the Urban Villages Initiative on the former PSNI Station site) subject to the Council receiving a management fee for the delivery, full funding packages being in place and further discussions with Legal Services; and

iv.    Procurement – to agree that any necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for any Physical Programmes projects including externally funded projects for 2023/24 as required, with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Physical Programme

            Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme. This includes the rolling Capital Programme – a multimillion regeneration programme of investment across the city which improves existing Council assets or provides new council facilities. The Council also delivers externally focused funding streams such as Belfast Investment Fund (BIF), Local Investment Fund (LIF), Social Outcomes Fund (SOF) and Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund (NRF), as well as numerous capital programmes that we deliver for central government. Our funding partners include National Lottery Heritage Fund, SEUPB Peace IV, the Executive Office (TEO), DfC, DfI via the Blue Green Infrastructure Fund and Living with Water Programme, DAERA, Ulster Garden Villages, Levelling Up Fund (LUF) and others.  Physical Programmes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       This report provides the Committee with an update on the next steps in respect of the £10m Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked:

·        Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund - to note the background to this £10m fund and the update provided including the updated programme timeline for delivery.

3.0       Main Report

            NEIGHBOURHOOD REGENERATION FUND

3.1       The Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund (NRF) is a £10m capital fund to help groups deliver capital projects that will make a real, long-term difference in their communities. Members will recall that the fund was originally £8m and has been bolstered by an additional £2m via the reallocation of year end surpluses. The fund attracted significant interest and a high volume of applications was received. The NRF Programme is currently at Stage 2 – Development Stage. The proposals presented in the applications showcase a wide variety of exciting new ideas for the city as well as enhancements to existing facilities. The NRF is an outcomes focused programme aligned to three key themes emerging from the City Recovery Framework: social economy, environmental sustainability and neighbourhood tourism. The fund is adopting an Outcomes Based Accountability (OBA) approach derived directly from these three themes and all proposals are being specifically developed in terms of their alignment to these outcomes.

3.2       Allocation Model

            Members will recall that the £10m fund allocation model per area is based on 50% proportion of population per quadrant of the city and 50% proportion of the population that is in top 20% area of multiple deprivation giving the final amounts available per area as outlined below - 

            * Proportional allocation to Shankill from overall West (Shankill - £705,759)

3.3       Members agreed a 3 Stage process for the NRF projects in November 2021 as outlined below

·        Stage 1-Application Stage (Emerging project) - an open call application process via the completion of an application form. Once received it was agreed that officers from across the Council would then carry out an assessment of projects using an assessment matrix designed to test projects against 4 abilities (affordability, feasibility, deliverability and sustainability).  Members agreed that projects had to score over 55 in order to be considered to proceed to the next stage (Stage 2 – Development).

·        Stage 2 – Development (Uncommitted project) - Project development stage - at this stage a business case/economic appraisal (commensurate with the scale of the project) will be undertaken along with detailed designs and project costings.  If an EA or similar has already been undertaken then the findings of this EA will be tested. Additional support (if required) will also be looked at (capacity building etc.). Due-diligence checks will be carried out in line with arrangements under LIF, BIF and SOF programmes. Proposed that this stage will be timebound to 6 months to allow decisions on projects to be taken at the same time

·        Stage 3 – Delivery (Committed project)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             To provide the Committee with an update on the PEACEPLUS Programme, specifically the opening of the calls under Theme 1.1 and Theme 1.4, as well as a request for a letter of support for Development Trust Northern Ireland under the Community Ownership Fund.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked:

i.       PEACEPLUS 1.1. Co-designed Local Community Peace Action Plan – to note that this SEUPB funding stream is now open, closing on 14th December 2023 and further note the approach for development of the capital proposals and that a detailed update will be brought to Committee in August;

ii.      PEACEPLUS 1.4 Reimaging Communities – to note that this SEUPB funding stream is now open, closing on 7th September 2023 and that officers are continuing to develop the proposals as previously agreed by the Committee (LGBTQIA+ Hub and Reconnected Belfast);

iii.    PEACEPLUS – Request for letters of support and/or request for Council to act as a delivery agent – to note that is likely that the Council will be requested to act as delivery agent and/or provide letters of support for projects being submitted under Theme 1.4 Reimaging Communities.  The Committee is asked to note that officers are currently clarifying the implications of this with SEUPB and that an update on requests for support will be brought to Committee in August for consideration; and

iv.    Community Ownership Fund – to agree to provide a letter of support to Development Trust Northern Ireland for its proposal under the Community Ownership Fund.

3.0       Main Report

            PEACEPLUS PROGRAMME

3.1       The EU PEACEPLUS Programme aims to build prosperity and peace within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The PEACEPLUS Programme has been divided into six themes – each of which aims to address longstanding social, environmental and economic challenges which have and continue to impact our community. Within each theme there are several investment areas – these will have a more specific focus and target organisations such as local authorities or community groups. The PEACEPLUS Programme offers a significant funding opportunity with approx. £1billion of funding available across the 6 themes.  The Committee is asked to note that a number of calls have recently opened under the Programme.

3.2       Theme 1.1 Local Action Plan – Community Regeneration and Transformation (Capital)

            The call for Local Action Plan applications has been opened by SEUPB. The closing date is confirmed as 14 December 2023. Shared City Partnership agreed on 12 June 2023 to an indicative % allocation model on the basis that there is significant work still required to agree specific budget allocations for both Capital and Revenue spend under each project concept area and that this model is subject to change. The allocation for capital was agreed as 40% which is anticipated to be approximately £4.8m for Belfast. It should be noted however that work is still ongoing on refining the % allocations that will be available as further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

            The Committee:

                                      i.          noted the summary of the work of the Audit and Risk Panel during 2022/23;

                                    ii.          approved the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2022/23 and, in particular, the disclosure of the significant governance issues contained in the statement; and

                                   iii.          approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Risk Panel of 13th June.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To inform the Committee of a proposed increase in fees for the Local Authority Property Certificates.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the contents of the report.

3.0       Main Report

            Background

3.1       The Committee will be aware that The Council Property Certificate system arises from an agreement in the early 1990’s between the Law Society (representing solicitors) and local Councils, as a means of ascertaining information, which is useful in legal searches relating to the conveyancing process for land and property. The Council Property Certificate is a series of questions asked about a specific address which, in the Belfast Council area, are coordinated and answered by Building Control with support from Environmental Health.

            Key Issues

3.2       Members may recall that in 2020, councils agreed to increase the Council’s Property Certificate fee from £60 to £70 fixed until a further review in 2023.

3.3       This review has now been undertaken by officers at a regional level and, given the increasing cost pressures on councils, officers have obtained SOLACE approval for the following proposal.

3.4       To mitigate against future inflationary costs to councils, officers have obtained SOLACE approval to the concept of applying a 3-year inflationary fee review cycle meaning a further review would not be required until 2026, unless there were significant changes to the Council Property certificate process. In which case, Councils would reserve the right to review the fees.

3.5       Therefore, if we build in an assumption for future rises to Consumer Price Index’s (CPI’s), along with other increasing cost pressures on councils, officers feel it would be reasonable to propose an increase the Councils Property Certificate fee from £70 to £90, fixed for three years.

3.6       This proposed increase would assist councils in maintaining adequate resources to ensure that the service is delivered in a prompt, efficient and professional manner. The slight differential between the Regional Property Certificate and Councils Property Certificate would also address the previous concerns raised by the Law Society that the two fees being the same had sometimes led to confusion in applications from solicitors and agents.

3.7       Allowing for establishment of new councils after the forthcoming election, this would increase the fees as outlined below from 1st July 2023:

3.8       Standard Charges

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.9       There would be significant increase to the income raised but the exact figure will depend on the number of applications received.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

3.10      Officers are not aware of any equality or good relations implications in relation to this report.”

            The Committee noted the contents of the report.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The purpose of the report is to provide the update the Committee on the implementation for the waiving of Building Regulation inspection fees for those applications involving loft insulation which are not part of funded schemes or maintenance contracts, which commenced on 1 December 2023 until 31 May 2023 subject to review.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to decide if:

i.       the exercise should continue beyond 31st May 2023 for an additional six months; or

ii.      the exercise should cease, on the basis that of the outcomes outlined in the report.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues and Current Position

3.1       The Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on on 8th November agreed to waive Building Regulation inspection fees for those applications involving installation of insulation which were not part of funded schemes or maintenance contracts.

3.2       The waiving of fees was implemented from the date of Council ratification on 1st December, 2022 until 31st May, 2023 subject to review. 

3.3       From 1st December 2023 until 31st May 2023, Building Control staff ran a series of reports, carried out an analysis and identified 95 applicants who they considered may have been eligible for a refund under this initiative. This was similar to the initial scoping analysis carried out and is based upon assessing the application details provided and judging those which fall outside any scheme and maintenance contracts that we are aware of.

3.4       A covering letter and a declaration form was issued to each potential eligible applicant. 

3.5       Out of the 95 letters and declaration forms issued, 11 declaration forms were returned. 

3.6       Through further investigation:

·        7 applicants were not due a refund as fees had been paid through a scheme.

·        4 applicants were eligible for a refund however the insulation was part of multiple works.  Once the notional fee of £400 for insulation was deducted from the estimate cost of works the payment made was still due, therefore a refund was not applicable, and applicants were informed in writing.

3.7       Using this method of analysis and process to identify and contact any applicants who may have paid the fees outside of a scheme has therefore not resulted in a refund being issued to any applicant.

            Energy Efficiency and Cost of Living Advice

3.8       Building Control has liaised with Corporate Communications and will be putting an article in the summer edition of City Matters (end of June) on the cost of living and energy advice for your home.  This article is signing posting to links on Belfast City Council website, NIHE and Energy Saving Trust. A second article is being considered for inclusion in the winter edition, the details of the article are still to be agreed.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.9       The method used in attempting to identify those applicants who may have paid their own fees, issuing the documentation and dealing with follow up correspondence is labour intensive and undertaken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

The Committee:

·        approved the public advertisement of tenders as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 1 below;

·        approved the award of Single Tender Actions, in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 2 below;

·        approved the modification of the contract, as per Standing Order 37a, detailed in Table 3 below; and

·        noted the award of retrospective Single Tender Actions, in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 4 below.

Table 1: Competitive Tenders

The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Shared City Partnership of 12th June, including the recommendations:

            PEACEPLUS

·        to agree to the indicative % allocation model, on the basis that there was significant work still required to agree specific budget allocations for both Capital and Revenue spend under each project concept area and that this model was subject to change; and

·        to note the updated process Stage 2 development of the Local Action Plan.

            PEACE IV

                 CYP Theme

·        to note the modifications considered and agreed through the Programme Board, via delegated authority, during the pre-election period (April and May 2023), as follows:

            CYP 1

                 Belfast Metropolitan College (Tech Connects)

·        to extend contact hours threshold to 20 hours and agree completion of the project based on 50% achievement;

Tech Connects IT Equipment reallocation to agree:

·        to keep the EOIs application open, on a rolling basis, until all equipment was allocated; and

·        to extend the applications to all groups which participated in the PEACE IV programme.

            SSS Theme

·        to extend the Network Scheme – Capital Works to 11th August 2023, to enable for delivery/closure, payments and finalisation of contracts; and

·        to extend the period for delivery of FMCG signage to 31st December’ 2023.

            BPR Theme

·        to note the report and level of achievement for the BPR Theme.

            GOOD RELATIONS

Good Relations Action Plan 2023/24, Reduced Budget Reprofile and response to The Executive Office and Spending Plans for 2023-2024

·        to agree the approach for reprofiling the reduced Good Relations budget, note the concerns raised and the contents of the EQIA report.

            Update on TEO Asylum Full Dispersal Fund

·        to agree the approach for reprofiling costs in relation to the Asylum Dispersal Fund.

            Membership of Shared City Partnership

·        to approve the approach to membership, Council officers to submit a report to the Partnership meeting in August on how to nominate members from the business sector and to note that it was agreed that, in relation to the vacancy in representation from the community/voluntary sector in North, it be advertised as previously, with networks and groups being contacted for expressions of interest.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To ask the Committee to agree the budget and appropriate resources for the implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and LGBT+ Action Plan Year 3 activities.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to approve the proposed diversity action plans and associated year 3 costs.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       The Council’s Equality and Diversity Action Plan outlines how it will promote equality and diversity in our ambitions to create a city in which people love to live, learn, invest, work and visit. It also contributes to our compliance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.  Actions are categorised under the following corporate plan priorities:

·        Growing an inclusive economy

·        Living here

·        Cross cutting

·        Organisational priorities

3.2       As part of the Equality and Diversity Action Plan   the Council has committed to developing and delivering a Gender Action Plan, LGBT+ Action Plan and a Race Equality Action Plan. 

            Gender Action Plan (GAP)

3.3       Gender inequalities are deeply embedded in our social, economic and cultural systems.  There is overwhelming evidence that women disproportionately experience disadvantage and discrimination, a reflection of historical unaddressed inequality, but also that inequalities have been exacerbated by austerity, welfare reform and by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics affirm the persistence of gendered inequalities, which continue to inhibit women’s life opportunities in Northern Ireland. Men will benefit from gender equality as they too face gender-specific issues such as lower life expectancy, bad health, lower education levels and are impacted negatively by rigid gender norms.

3.4       The GAP (21-24) was agreed by the Council in July 21 following consultation with Women’s Steering Group (WSG) the Women’s Network and a wider group of staff that attended a Gender Inequalities workshop in January 2021.

3.5       Year 2 achievements / projects delivered include:

·        Held annual International Women’s Day event in City Hall  

·        Funding provided for external International Women’s Day event in city centre

·        Participation in the NI Gender Diversity Charter assessment- retained Silver level accreditation 

·        Women’s Leaders Programme delivered - 5 elected members and 17 officers participated

·        Implemented Menopause Policy and Guidance and established a Menopause Support Group

·        Delivered free and reusable period product pilots

·        Onus Domestic Violence Charter (employer award) – retained Platinum level

·        Onus Safe City Accreditation - retained

·        Ongoing support for the Raise Your Voice Project to help address misogyny, sexual harassment and violence

·        Transgender awareness raising and support events

·        Provision of upskilling academies in low paid sector (childcare, health care etc)

·        Progress on construction of Shankill Shared Women’s Centre

3.6       Year 3 of the current GAP (23/24) has been updated, costed and is being presented to Committee for approval.  It is attached at Appendix One. In addition to the financial resources required, the plan also identifies the role that individual business units and departments have in delivery of the plan.

            LGBT+ Action Plan

3.7       The LGBT+ Action Plan (21-24) was agreed by the Council in July 21 following consultation with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders’ Consultative Forum of 15th June.

            The Committee adopted the recommendations in respect of those applications received up to 9thJune, as set out below:

            The Committee’s attention was drawn to the following requests for the use of the front lawns of the City Hall in 2023:

Féile Rocks Pride Concert

      This event would take place on 29th July and feature local young and emerging bands from all sections of the community.

Beat on the Street

      This event, which would take place on 16th September, would be organised by the Beat Carnival Centre and include family fun entertainment, with a music stage, activities and performers.

Poetry Jukebox

      A poetry jukebox, featuring twenty poems by internationally renowned poets, would be located in the grounds from 2nd October to 6th November to coincide with the Belfast International Arts Festival 2023.

The Committee approved the requests and noted that each organiser would be required to submit an event management plan and risk assessment in advance of their event.

In addition, the Committee granted delegated authority to the Interim City Solicitor/Director of Legal Services to approve a request to erect a boxing ring in the grounds of the City Hall on 1st August for a warmup type session, as part of Féile An Phobail, subject to all the usual conditions being met.  

The Committee granted approval for a licensed operator to record drone footage of a number of Council buildings and events over four days, beginning on 29th July and continuing into the following week, to be used in future internal and external videos.